Traversing mechanism for winding machine



1960 u. J. RUTGERS 2,950,068

TRAVERSING MECHANISMFORWINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1956 INVENTOR.fl/f/CA Jill [uzjaerfi ATTORNEY ata TRAVERSING MECdM FOR "WINDINGMAClfiNE Ulrich Jan Rutgers, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to AmericanErika Corporation, Erika, N.., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 26,B56, Ser. No. 624,393

Claims priority, application Netherlands Dec. 5, 1955 '5 Claims. (Cl.242- 33) thread may be evenly distributed along vthe surface thereof. Inthis type of apparatus the thread usually is supplied at an anglesubstantially normal to the axis of rotation of the spool, passing firstthrough a stationary thread guide or roller, next through a guide whichis reciprocated by a conventional traversing mechanism and then onto thetake-up spool.

While the foregoing type of thread winding has been generally acceptedcommercially, it has the disadvantage of imparting a non-uniform tensionto the thread during Winding. The reason for this is that at each end ofthe traverse stroke the reciprocating thread guide is displaced fartherfrom the stationary guide than when the reciprocating guide is midway ofthe traverse stroke. Thus the thread is subjected to an increase intension on at least two occasions during each complete cycle of thetraversing mechanism, which not only deleteriously affects the endproduct of the thread but also produces an unevenly wound package whichis diflicult to handle.

In order to overcome the disadvantage of known traversing mechanisms atleast partially it has been proposed to mount the stationary threadguide at a greater distance than normal from the spool, to mount thetraversing thread guide in conventional manner parallel to and spacedslightly from the surface of the spool and to provide, in addition, anauxiliary thread guiding system, movable in the longitudinal directionof the spool, intermediate the stationary and the traversing threadguides.

This auxiliary thread guiding system comprises a roller which isrotatably attached to an arm, the arm being arranged laterally of thestationary thread guide and having one end pivoted about a fixed pointand the other end pivotally connected to the traversing rod on which thetraversing thread guide is mounted. The roller is mounted on the armexactly midway of the fixed pivot and the pivot which couples the arm tothe traversing rod. The length of the arm is of such a dimension thatthe distance between the running-off point of the stationary threadguide and the running-on point of the roller is equal to the distancebetween the running-off point of the roller and the running-on point ofthe traversing thread guide. The traversing thread guide in thisinstance comprises a freely rotatable roller mounted on a cross arm ofthe traversing rod and a thread guide arm projecting from the rod andhaving a groove through which the thread passes.

While the foregoing guiding system has advantages over traversingmechanisms heretofore used and theoretically supplies thread to thetake-up spool under uniform tension, there are disadvantages whichapparently have atent Patented Aug. 23, 1960 prevented the same fromachieving commerical success. For example, the aforementioned rollermust be mounted exactly equidistant between the stationary pivot and thetraverse rod pivot; otherwise the length of thread running between thestationary guide and the traversing roller will not remain constantduring the traversal stroke with the result that the thread will undergoa change in tension. Furthermore, the portions of the thread running toand from the auxiliary roller must be laterally shifted in a planeexactly parallel with the direction of movement of the traversing rod orthe thread will undergo a change in tension. These and otherdisadvantages have led to the development of the improved traversingsystem disclosed herein.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is to provide a windingmachine not having the inhertent disadvantages of known machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved windingmachine for winding a continuous thread into package form.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thread traversingmechanism for a winding machine which will distribute thread underuniform tension along the surface of the take-up spool. 1

Still another object of this invention is to provide a thread traversingmechanism for a winding machine which will maintain a constant length ofthread travel between the stationary thread guide and the traversingthread guide at all times during the winding operation.

In accordance with the present invention applicant inter poses afloating linkage or auxiliary guide mechanism between the stationarythread guide and the traversing thread guide. This linkage consists oftwo rigid arms, one of which is pivotally mounted to a stationarylongitudinal beam and the other of which is pivotally mounted to thetraversing rod, with the free ends of the arms being pivotally mountedone to the other. At each pivot point of the system the threadcontacting surface of an auxiliary thread guide or eyelet is mounted soas to be coaxial therewith. By providing arms having a total lengthgreater than the distance between the stationary thread guide and thetraversing guide when the latter is at the end of a stroke, as shown inthe preferred embodiment, the linkage always remains in a broken orunstraightened condition and there is sufiicient linkage to accommodatethe space between the stationary and traversing guides at any position.Inasmuch as the overall length of the two rigid arms remains constant,the path of thread travel defined thereby likewise never changes, whichresults in winding of thread under uniform conditions of tension. Bythis arrangement the stationary thread guide consists of an eyelethaving 'a thread contacting surface mounted coaxially with thestationary pivot point of said linkage and the conventional threadguiding roller,whereas the traversing guide consists of an eyelet havinga thread contacting surface mounted coaxially with the reciprocablepivot point of said linkage and the usual projecting thread guide whichis provided with a thread contacting groove.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description studied in connection with the drawing, wherein:

The figure is a perspective view of a conventional winding machineembodying one illustration of applicants novel traversing mechanism andomitting certain drive means and apparatus not essential to anunderstanding of the present disclosure.

A preferred embodiment of a traversing mechanism.

vided a plurality of spaced drive rollers 11 coaxially mounted on a maindrive shaft 12 which is driven by any suitable means (not shown). Eachof the drive rollers 11 contacts and provides a surface drive for one ofthe plurality of take up spools 13, it being understood that for each ofthe spools there is provided a drive roller. Further discussion will belimited to a single winding station since each additional station issubstantially a duplicate of the first.

The take-up spool 13 is clamped by conventional means (not shown) onshaft 14, which shaft is rotatably supported, in cantilever fashion, inbearing 15 of spool supporting lever 16. The lever 16 is pivotallymounted on fulcrum 17 and is biased by spring 18 in a direction toresiliently urge the spool 13 into frictional contact with drive roller11, whereby the latter, when driven, will impart rotation to the former.An extension 20 of lever 16 serves as a handle whereby the spool may beswung outwardly away from drive roller 11 for dofiing purposes. Thespool, of course, moves about fulcrum 17 against the action of spring 18as the winding of thread thereon proceeds. The fulcrum 17 and spool 13extend in a direction parallel with but spaced from the axis of shaft 12in order that uniform surface contact will be established between thespool and roller in all positions of fill of the wound package.

Above but closely adjacent to the main drive shaft 12, and paralleltherewith, there is provided a traversing rod 21. This traversing rod isslidably mounted in bearings (not shown) and is reciprocatedlongitudinally by any suitable means (also not shown). A plurality ofbars 22, one for each respective winding station discussed supra, areclamped about and therefore reciprocate with the traversing rod 21. Eachof these bars projects outwardly and downwardly from the traversing rodand tenninates in a struck up portion defining a thread guiding groove23 which is positioned so as to overlie the takeup spool 13. It can beseen that as the bar 22 reciprocates longitudinally, thread passingthrough the groove 23 will be shifted laterally anddistributed-uniformly over the surface of the spool. In order tofacilitate passage of thread through the groove 23, a guiding eyelet 24is positioned in alignment therewith and secured to the bar 22 by means'of stem 25 and suitable retaining means, such as a threaded connection.and the groove 23 in bar 22 constitute and will frequently be referredto hereinafter as the traversing thread guide.

Mounted in spaced relationship above and also parallel with main shaft12 is a longitudinal beam 26 which serves as a support for structure tobe presently described. For each of the winding stations a stub shaft 27extends outwardly of beam 26 and rotatably supports a thread guideroller 28. Also projecting outwardly from the beam at each windingstation is a cross arm 29. The stub shaft 27 and cross arm 29 may besecured to the beam by any appropriate means such as, for example,thread connections and/or welding, respectively, and the cross arm mayprovide additional support for the stub shaft, as shown in the drawing.

The outer end of cross arm 29 functions as a stationary pivot for thelinkage which constitutes the auxiliary thread guide of the presentinvention and which is identified generally by reference numeral 30.Mounted coaxially with the aforesaid pivot point is a thread guide oreyelet 31 which is supported on the end of stem 32 and which, togetherwith the guide roller 28, forms the stationary guide herein underdiscussion. Upper arm 33 of applicants novel link-age is pivotallysupported by the end of cross arm 29, as stated hereinabove, and lowerarm 34 of this linkage is pivotally supported by bar 22 of thetraversing thread guide unit. The free ends of inflexible arms 33 and 34are pivotally secured one to the other by a pin 35, the outer end ofwhich is shaped to form a third or auxiliary thread eyelet 36. Inaccordance with this invention, each pivot point of the linkage 30 iscoaxialwith the thread guiding or contact- The eyelet 24 ing surface ofa respective thread eyelet or guide. For purposes ofconvenience,extensions of the thread eyelets may constitute the pivots. Also, inaccordance with the preferred embodiment, the length of arms 33 and 34has been chosen so as always to exceed the distance between thestationary guide structure and the traversing guide, in any position ofthe latter. Thus the linkage, which resembles a toggle, always remainsin a broken condition, although this is not essential to successfulpractice of the present invention.

In the operation of applicants device, the group of threads 37 to bewound into individual package form is fed at a uniform speed from asupply source (not shown) by feed rolers 38 which are driven at auniform velocity by conventional means (also not shown). Each thread 39emerging flom the feed rollers is directed over a respective guideroller 28, through a relatively stationary guide eyelet 31, auxiliaryguide eyelet 36, the traversing thread guide, which comprises eyelet 24and groove 23, and onto the take-up spool 13.

As the traversing rod 21 reciprocates along the longitudinal axisthereof, the entire linkage 30 oscillates about the outer end of crossarm 29. As pointed out supra, since the overall length of arms 33 and 34is constant, and since the pivot points of the arms are coaxial with thethread contacting surfaces of respective thread guides, then the lengthof thread contained within the guide structure remains constant,resulting in an improved traversal mechanism which distributes thethread over the surface of the take-up spool under uniform tension atall times. This not only produces. a very attractive thread package butalso a thread having a much better quality than that heretoforeavailable. When the spool 13 is completely filled, handle 20 may bemanipulated in order to expedite dofling in the usual manner.

The above described traversal mechanism may be used in conjunction withany type winding machine which receives threads continuously from asupply source, such as a slasher or a continuous spinning machinewherein a plurality of threads are spun, united to form a series ofparallel threads moving at a slight mutual distance in a plane having arectilinear cross section and thereafter led through a number ofaftertreating baths and finally dried.

. While the foregoing description has been generally limited to threadguiding eyelets it is apparent that guiding rollers may be used in someor all of the guiding positions. Moreover, while the preferredembodiment utilizes only two arms 33 and 34 as component parts of thelinkage 30 it is equally evident that a greater number could be used ifdesired. As an alternative of this, it is also possible to provide asingle coil spring attached at one end to the stationary thread guide.and at the opposite end to the traversing thread guide with the threadpassing longitudinally through the center thereof. This spring should beof a length in relaxed condition at least equal to the maximum distancebetween the stationary and traversing guides whereupon the path ofthread travel will remain constant at all times. Additionally, a flatspring member or plate having thread guiding eyelets or rollers mountedthereon could be used to accomplish the present invention.

With respect to the overall length of applicants auxiliary guide linkage30, it is pointed out that the same need not necessarily exceed themaximum distance between the stationary and traversing guides althoughit is obvious that this length must always at least equal this distance,since it is propsed that the arms 33 and 34 be constructed fromnon-elastic material. In other words, the toggle 33, 34 could straightenin the extreme portions of the traversing stroke, if desired. In orderto simplify fabrication of applicants mechanism, however, it ispreferred that the total length of the linkage 30 always exceed themaximum distance between the stationary and traversing guides.

It is obvious that the present invention can be used equally effectivelywith a single or a plurality of winding stations. With respect to thelatter, it has been found unnecessary to provide all winding stationswith the auxiliary guide disclosed herein. In machines which wind anumber of threads into package or spool form and wherein all the threadsare supplied from one end, such as shown in the drawing, application ofthis invention to the winding stations situated nearest to the supplysource has been found to sufiice. The inherent elasticity in the threadsextending between the feed rollers and remote stationary guide units issufiicient to compensate for any variations in tension produced byconventional traversing mechanisms.

In order to limit the number of auxiliary guide linkages requiredin amultiple-station winding machine, it is also possible that the linkage30 be mounted only at the first and last of these stations and that athird or connecting arm extend parallel with the traversing rod 21 andbe pivotally attached at one end to the pin 35 of the first linkage 30.and at the opposite end to the pin 35 of the last linkage 30. Auxiliaryguide eyelets or rollers may then be mounted at suitable positions alongthe length of this third arm, which positions should correspond torespective intermediate winding stations.

It is understood that the foregoing description is for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of thisinvention except to the extent defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for winding a continuous thread into package formcomprising a take-up spool, a traversing thread guide mounted formovement adjacent to and along the surface of said spool, a stationarythread guide for guiding thread from a supply source to said traversingthread guide, and an auxiliary thread guiding mechanism for maintainingthe length of thread extending between the traversing and stationarythread guides constant throughout the traverse stroke, said mechanismincluding a linkage pivotally attached at one end to said traversingthread guide for movement therewith and pivotally attached at the otherend to said stationary thread guide, said pivotal connections beingcoaxial with thread contacting surfaces of said traversing andstationary thread guides, respectively.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage comprises anupper arm and a lower arm, the adjoining ends of which are pivotallyconnected, and a thread guide having a thread contacting surface mountedcoaxial with the pivotal connection between adjoining ends of said upperand lower arm.

3. A machine for winding a plurality of continuous threads intoindividual pack-age form comprising a plurality of take-up spoolsaxially aligned in spaced relationship, a plurality of traversing threadguides each of which is mounted for movement adjacent to and along thesurface of a respective take-up spool, a plurality of aligned stationarythread guides each of which guides a thread from a supply source to oneof said traversing thread guides, and a plurality of auxiliary threadguiding mechanisms, one for each of said traversing guides, formaintaining the length of thread extending between respective traversingand stationary thread guides constant throughout the traverse stroke,each of said mechanisms including a linkage pivotally attached at oneend to said traversing thread guide for movement therewith and pivotallyattached at the end to said stationary thread guide, said pivotalconnections being coaxial with thread contacting surfaces of saidtraversing and stationary thread guides, respectively.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said linkagescomprises an upper arm and a lower arm, the adjoining ends of which arepivotally connected and a thread guide having a thread contactingsurface mounted coaxial with the pivotal connection between the upperand lower arms of each of said linkages.

5. A machine for winding a plurality of continuous threads intoindividual package form comprising a plurality of take-up spools axiallyaligned in spaced relationship, a plurality of traversing thread guideseach of which is mounted for movement adjacent to and along the surfaceof a respective take-up spool, a plurality of aligned stationary threadguides each of which guides a thread from a supply source to one of saidtraversing thread guides, at least two auxiliary mechanisms each ofwhich comprises an upper arm pivotally supported coaxially with a threadcontacting surface on one of said stationary thread guides and a lowerarm pivotally supported coaxially with a thread contacting surface onone of said traversing thread guides and the adjoining ends of which arepivotally connected, and means having a thread contacting surfaceextending coaxially from and supported by each pivotal connectionbetween said arms for guiding the threads in a constant length of travelbetween said stationary and said traversing guides, respe ctively.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 901,884Germany v Jan. 18, 1954

